Brian Couzens

Richard Smoker

Ben Connellan

Richard Smoker

Vocal & Song

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Operas - Cav & Pag

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PIETRO MASCAGNI

Cavalleria Rusticana

79:31

Country Manners, (1890-Rome)

Melodrama in one act by G. Targioni-Tozzetti and G Menasci

English translation by Edmund Tracey

1

Prelude -

2:40

Siciliana

2

Turiddu 'O Lola with your skin white as the lily' -

1:56

3

Prelude (conclusion) -

3:30

4

Chorus 'Ah! Ah!' -

2:46

5

'Spring has returned' -

5:29

Scena and Alfio's Song

6

Santuzza 'Tell me, mamma Lucia'

5:06

7

Alfio 'Horses champing at the bit'

2:54

Scena and Prayer

8

Lucia 'Good for you mister Alfio'

0:33

Easter Hymn

9

Alfio 'I must be going!'

7:41

Romance and Scena

10

Santuzza 'You know your son, Turiddu'

6:34

Scena

11

Turiddu 'What do you want Santuzza'

3:52

Lola's Song

12

Lola 'Sweet flow'rs I bring you'

3:55

13

Santuzza 'No, no, Turiddu'

5:56

14

Santuzza 'Oh! So my prayer has been answered'

3:58

15

Alfio 'I'd like to thank you'

2:05

16

Intermezzo

3:59

Scena Chorus and Brindisi

17

Chorus 'The service is over this Easter'

2:52

18

Turiddu 'Neighbours, with a glass I meet you'

2:33

Finale

19

Alfio 'All the blessings of Easter!'

2:25

20

Turiddu 'Alfio, listen'

2:45

21

Turiddu 'The wine is making me talk nonsense'

6:00

Dennis O'Neill tenor - Turiddu

Nelly Miricioiu soprano - Santuzza

Phillip Joll baritone - Alfio

Diana Montague soprano - Lola

Elizabeth Bainbridge contralto - Lucia

David Parry

3-5 August 1997

RUGGIERO LEONCAVALLO

(1857-1919)

Pagliacci

79:45

The Touring Company

Opera in a prologue and two acts

Libretto by Leoncavallo

English translation by Edmund Tracey

Prologue

22

'Hello . . . Hello' . . .

8:12

Tonio

Act I

23

Chorus: 'Hey! They're back! They're Back!'

2:58

Chorus, Canio, Beppe

24

Aria: 'Your most humble servant'

2:48

Canio, Chorus, Beppe, Tonio

25

Cantabile: 'If he tried it I promise you'

3:09

Canio, Nedda, Chorus

26

Chorus: 'You hear them playing?'

4:10

Chorus, Canio

27

Introduction: 'The ugly look he gave me'

2:44

Nedda

28

Aria: 'Swallow, fly away'

2:23

Nedda

29

Duet: 'It's you! I thought that you had gone with Canio'

5:02

Nedda, Tonio

30

Duet: 'Nedda!' . . .

1:28

Silvio, Nedda

31

'Why do you go on with this tormented life?'

2:44

Silvio, Nedda

32

'I must be strong'

3:19

Nedda, Silvio, Tonio

33

'How can you tell me you ever loved me'

4:18

Silvio, Nedda

34

'Be very careful, and then we can surprise them'

5:00

Tonio, Silvio, Nedda, Canio, Beppe

35

Introduction: 'Go on stage . . .'

0:46

Canio

36

Aria: 'Put on your costume'

2:59

Canio

37

Interrmezzo

3:45

Act II

38

'Ohe! Ohe! Quickly! Hurry!'

4:07

Chorus, Tonio, Beppe, Silvio, Nedda

The Play

39

'Paggliaccio. That's my husband'

1:40

Nedda (Columbina)

40

Serenade: 'O Columbina'

2:45

Beppe (Harlequin), Columbina

41

'She's waiting. She is a goddess!'

3:50

Tonio (Taddeo), Columbina

42

'Arlecchin!' 'Columbina'

1:57

Columbina, Harlequin, Taddeo

43

'Pour the potion in his glass at midnight'

3:04

Harlequin, Columbina (Nedda), Pagliaccio (Canio), Tonio

44

Aria: 'No, we're not in a play!'

6:31

Canio, Chorus, Silvio, Nedda, Beppe, Tonio

Alan Opie baritone - Tonio

Dennis O'Neill tenor - Canio

Peter Bronder tenor - Beppe

Rosa Mannion soprano - Nedda

William Dazeley baritone - Silvio

David Parry

Brad Cohen (assistant conductor)

7-10 August 1997

Dennis O’Neill stars in this two-disc set of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci in English.

As with all Opera in English recordings, this two-disc set is available at mid-price

Following the success of both operas when released individually, this attractive two-disc box set features a strong cast of distinguished soloists. Conductor David Parry is equally distinguished in his field and has made dozens of opera recordings, many of which are regarded as a staple of the catalogue.

Chandos has a strong commitment to Opera in English through its association with the Peter Moores Foundation. This is the nineteenth release in the series to date – the most comprehensive collection of opera in English recording undertaken by a record company, and a major addition to the catalogue.

Cavalleria rusticana won first prize in a competition for one-act operas. Its success was immediate and lasting, and Mascagni never again quite achieved the same success he had with this opera. In fact, the spread of its popularity has not been matched by any other opera and – its greatest compliment – it spawned a host of imitations. The concise, passionate tale of Sicilian peasants – struck a chord with audiences, and Mascagni’s simple but effective dramatic devices still pack a punch.

The plot of Pagliacci was broadly based on what Leoncavallo remembered of one of his father’s law cases – a middle-aged actor who murders his unfaithful young wife. Leoncavallo was an accomplished librettist; his scenario is at once credible and swift-moving. The characterisation may not run very deep, but it is convincing enough to make us believe that the characters are real people.

The music is touching, immediately accessible and attractive, tuneful without being tawdry. For his score, Leoncavallo took as much as he needed from Wagnerian methods. There is rudimentary use of leitmotiv, and neither the harmony nor the orchestration could have been as it is had Wagner not existed. However, the score is recognisably Italian in flavour, and the various set-pieces are fully integrated into the structure in the manner of late Verdi.

Chandos continues its admirable Opera in English series with a suitably earthy account of Mascagni’s raw tale of love, jealousy and death in a Sicilian village.

BBC Music Magazine

The performance works well… I commend it to anyone who wants to hear Pagliacci in English